DPRK slams upcoming U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise

PYONGYANG, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday slammed the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercise by South Korea and the United States, calling it the "most undisguised physical measure and provocative action."

The drill is "an outrageous provocation for a nuclear war against the north aimed to encroach upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and infringe on the vital rights of its people," said a statement given by a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country (CPRC), which was carried by the official news agency KCNA.

"It is the resolute stand of the DPRK to decisively foil all hostile acts and threat of aggression and provocation with the Korean-style nuclear deterrence," the statement said.

The DPRK also urged the United States to roll back the hostile policy against it and stop such dangerous muscle flexing.

The Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military drill to be carried out by Washington and Seoul next week is reportedly to kick off on Monday.

Each year, South Korea and the United States conduct a number of joint military drills including "Key Resolve," "Foal Eagle" and "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" which they claim to be of defensive nature. But Pyongyang says the annual war games are designed for northward invasion.